Apparatus for cutting clay pipe into rings and sections



(No Model.) 2; SheetsSheet 1,

P. W. LYLE.

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING GLAY' PIPES INTO RINGS AND SEGTIONS.

Pqtented Nov. 20,. 1888.

N. PETERS Phm-Lnho mvher, wzmington. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

,R. W. LYLE.

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OLAY PIPES INTO RINGS AND SECTIONS.

No. 393,308. Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

Fey 2; 7-

N. vz'rsns Pholn-Lilhugnphnr. Washington. D. c.,

' NITED STATES Parana eater.

ROBERT W. LYLE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CLAY PIPE INTO RINGS AND SECTIONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,308, dated November 20, 1888.

' Application filed March 3,1884. Serial No.122,919. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. LYLE, of Rochester, Monroe county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting Clay Pipe into Rings or Sections; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation, partially in section, of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the shaft in line was of Fig. 1, and a plan view of the cage and cutting apparatus. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the swivel attachment at the top of the shaft, enlarged. Fig. 4 isa plan view of the same parts. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the ratchets at the top for raising the appa ratus. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the pipe.

My improvement relates to means for cutting clay pipe into short rings or sections before being burned, the work being done by a fine wire or thin blade of steel. Such machines are already in use; but as ordinarily constructed the frame carrying the wire is si1nply reciprocated or moved forward and back, and the work is very slow. My invention involves the principle of mounting any desired number of pieces of pipe on a bed or support and cutting all at once by a continuous turning of the apparatus in one direction.

In thedrawings, Ashows a platform or bed,

upon which the pieces of pipe are placed,

standing up endwise, the same being indicated by dotted lines in the drawings. Any suitable number may be so placed, and, if desired, the whole platform may be filled, it only being requisite to set them so that they will retain a fixed position as the cutting-wiresweeps around to cut them.

B is a cage or frame of skeleton form, preferably circular in plan and consisting of two hoops or rings, aa, placed at suitable distance apart and connected by Braces b b,of any suitable form. The cage is open at bottom and top, and when lowered, as shown by full lines, Fig. 1, it embraces or incloses the pieces of pipe on the platform.

0 is a hollow shaft or spindle, to which the cage is rigidly attached, and which extends upward through boxes (I d, which allow it to turn, and also to slide up and down vertically.

D is an interior shaft, which rests inside the hollow shaft 0, its upper end, extending a little above the hollow shaft and its lower end extending down through and below the bottom of the cage, where it passes loosely through a box, w, of the platform A.

To the shaft D is attached a cross-arm, G, which extends centrallycrosswise of the cage, but rests inside, as shown most clearly in the plan view, Fig. 2. As the cage and the hollow outer shaft to which it is attached revolve, the cross-bar and the inner shaft to which it is attached remain stationary, for a purpose presently to be explained. a

fis a circular head forming a rigid part of the top of the hollow shaft. This head has a circumferential groove, 9. h is a band, which surrounds the circular head, and is provided with screws or other attachments, it, which enter the groove, thus forming a swivel that allows the shaft to revolve while the band remains stationary. 7c is a stirrup or loop attached to the band h, and by which it can be attached to the hook of the suspending chain. A pin, Z, passes through the projecting end p of the inner shaft, its ends resting on opposite sidesof the loop 70, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and one long end,l,resting in a long slot, at, of a hanger, H, which also sustains the boxes d d.

I is a cord, which passes up over a pulley.

K, one end having a hook or other attachment,

posite end having a counter-weight, L, which balances or nearly balances the cage and its attachments. Instead of a cord and pulley a chain and sprocket-wheel may be used to suspend the cage.

M M M are a set of ratchet-wheels of different sizes, or having different numbers of teeth on the same shaft with the pulley.

N is a pawl resting on a crossshaft, 0, adjustable laterally to any one of the ratchets and secured in any position by a set-screw or other means. Instead of a set of two or more ratchets a single one may be used, having its teeth so spaced that the different heights to which the cage is raised to cut rings of different sizes may be gaged by allowing a greater or lessnumber of the teeth to pass the pawl.

P is a cord or cable attached to the back of the pawl, thence extending up over a pulley or pulleys, r, and thence extending down within reach of the operator,who, by drawing on the cord, can raise the pawl and free it from the ratchet.

R is a fine wire or thin steel blade stretched taut across the cage at its bottom, passing directly under the cross-bar G, so that as it is turned with the cage it will run clear of the cross-bar. It may be attached in any desired way, that shown being a stationary eye at one end and a screw-hook at the other by which it may be tightened.

The operation is as follows: The sections of pipe are placed upon the platform, as before described. The cage is brought down till the wire is at the right height to cut the first ring. The cage is then given a partial turn, which causes the wire to cut through all the sections of pipe, cutting as many rings as there are sections. The cage is then raised suffieiently to make another cut, and the cage is again turned, making a second cut. The cage can beraised by hand, the pawl slipping over the ratchet, but preventing the fall of the cage. When it is desired to lower the cage, it can be done by drawing on cord P, which frees the pawl from the ratchet. If desired, the cutting can be commenced at the top of the pipe, instead of the bottom, and the cage be gradually lowered instead of raised. During the movement of the cage to cut the pipe the cross-bar G- remains stationary or non-revolving, and itsposition is such that it rests against and supports the sections at the point where the cutis made, thus forming a stop and a gage. It is raised, however, as fast as the cage is, so that it forms a gage to each cut. The swivel at the top of the shaft allows the turning of the gage, while the pin Z, running in the slot m, prevents the turning of the inner shaft and its crossbar.

By the means before described the work of cutting pipe into rings is greatly simplified and expedited. Heretofore, so far as I am aware, it has been customary to cut the pipe by a swinging or reciprocating action, causing the loss of much motion and involving much time and requiring much extra labor. By the packing of a number of sections on a platform and giving a continuous forward motion to the wire great advantages are attained, as above set forth, and more perfect work is attained.

I do not wish to confine myself to the particular form of cage shown, as a simple frame may be used with the cutting-wire stretched across. Neither do I wish to confine myself to a wire or blade stretched centrally across the frame, as it can be attached on one side of the center, if desired, and this is done in cutting the larger sizes of pipe. In such case the wire may be so arranged as to simply cut through one side of the pipe, and then by making the full circuit it cuts the ring complete.

By extending the inner shaft, D, through the box to in the-platform A, and allowing it a free movement therein, the attachments can be raised and lowered without difficulty and are prevented from wabbling and trembling, as they would do if the lower end were unsupported. By making the shaft and the box in which it rests square in cross'section it also assists the pin 1 in preventing the inner shaft and its cross-bar from turning.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In an apparatus for cutting clay pipe into rings, the combination of the supporting-platform, the rotating cage provided with a cutting'wire, the non-revolving cross-head serving as a stop to the pipe, and the exterior and interior shafts, to which said cage and crosshead are respectively attached, both being vertically movable in unison to preserve the relative positions of the cage and cross-head, as herein shown and described.

2. In an apparatus for cutting clay pipe into rings,the combination of an open cage attached to a hollow revolving-shaft and provided with a cutting-wire, and a cross-head attached to a non-revolving shaft inside the hollow shaft, both of said shafts beings capable of vertical movement in unison, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the shafts G D one resting outside of the other-of the grooved head f, attached to the outer shaft, the band h, surrounding the head and having screws or other bearings which enter the groove, the loop k, attached to the band, and the pin Z, passing through the projecting end of the inner shaft, resting on opposite sides of the loop, and its long end resting in the slot m of a suitable hanger or guide, as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for cutting pipe into rings, the combination, with the frame B and cross-arm G, attached, respectively, to shafts C D, of the chain I, pulley K, ratchets M, pawl N, and cord 1?, as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

5. In an apparatus for cutting pipe into my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT W. LYLE. Witnesses:

R. F. Osooon, P. A. GOSTIOH. 

